Pointillism is a painting technique whereby small dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image. It was developed in 1886 by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac as a variation of Impressionism. In the beginning the term was used by critics to mock these artists, but today does not carry the derrogatory connotation.
In traditional painting, colors are blended on a palette before application. To the contrary with pointillism, pure color dots are painted in close proximity, forcing the eye and the mind to merge them into a fuller tonal range.
The focus of pointillism is on the specific style of brushstroke used to apply the paint. Few artists use this technique today. Artists most noted for this style are Seurat and Signac and by Andy Warhol in some of his early works.
Pictured above is a well known work by Georges Seurat titled "Saturday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte".
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